A Very Happy Childhood

A Memory of Petts Wood.

I was born and brought up 8a Transmere Road. I attended Croften Infants School and then Croften Junior School. I had previously attened a nursery school in Croften Lane, I think near the infants school. I can remember my first day at infants school, having to wear a buff coloured luggage lable on a piece of hairy string around my neck. The Head Teacher was Miss Bowes. I can remember some of my teachers, there was a Mrs Peadon I think, but the other names escape me. Croften Junior School across the road was the Big School with Mr Fisher as the head, Mrs Stribley and Mrs Court as teachers, also Mr Reeves. I joined the 1st Petts Wood Cubs with my friend Graham Beauchamp and Stephen Green and then went on into Scouts. Mr A. J. Packham (Wham) was the Group Scout Master. A real gentleman who was lovely. He gave up so much of his own time for the boys.
I worked after school at "Beamans" the Chemist almost opposite the "Embassy" Cinema. I also remember the "Golden Arrow" with its lovely Pullman carrages racing through Petts Wood Station at about 11.00am each morning. Lunch time play at Junior School saw us at the bottom of the field in summer watching the goods trains passing, often with 50 or so coal waggons clanking along.
Ahhhh happy days.